Thailand Starts 'Countdown' for Oscar Race

HONG KONG - Thailand has made the unusual choice of a psychological thriller "Countdown" as its contender for nomination in the Academy Awards' foreign-language section.

The film was directed by Nattawut Poonpiriya and released in December last year with an 18+ rating.

The film is a black tale of three dope-smoking Thai teenagers who are holed up in an apartment in New York at New Year, when they are terrorized by a Bible-wielding drug dealer called Jesus (David Asavanond).

The film was produced by major studio GTH, better known for its more family-friendly fare, and which this year delivered "Pee Mak Phrakanon," a ghost comedy which became one of the biggest Thai B.O. hits of all time.

The Oscar selection was made by Federation of National Film Associations of Thailand, which is currently headed by GTH boss Visute Poolvoraluck.